Peyton Krebs and his brothers proudly wear the family name on the back of their jerseys, but big sister Maddison wants to see hers on the country-music marquee
Cindy and Greg Krebs raised their four children to be best friends, to
chase big dreams and to go after a life they loved in full.
For Maddison, the eldest of the close-knit quartet, it was music that
filled her up. A budding country music artist, she got her start as part of
the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts program with the Calgary
Stampede and moved from home in ‘Nashville North’ to Nashville proper in
2018.
“I want to pursue [music] for the rest of my life and my parents were super
encouraging of that.”
For the three boys, it was hockey that struck a chord.
Oldest brother Dakota is playing at the University of Calgary this year
after a five-year WHL career, while youngest Dru is in what should be his
sophomore season with the Medicine Hat Tigers were it not for COVID-19
restrictions.
And then there’s Peyton, a Team Canada mainstay over the last few years
whose international résumé includes the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey
Challenge, 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship and,
of course, the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
For Peyton, the passion his parents encouraged centres around fun. “I play
hockey because I love it. When I wake up in the morning it’s all I have on
my mind and all I want to do.”
Greg and Cindy wanted their family to set its sights on big dreams and to
know that, no matter where their journeys take them, they are supported.
“We created a culture in our house of being each other’s biggest fans and
doing whatever it takes to help each other out,” says Greg.
The culture of big dreams started when the kids were young. Growing up in
Okotoks, Alta., about 20 minutes south of Calgary, Greg and Cindy gifted
their foursome with dream books one Christmas, something the two of them
had practiced for years. Each Krebs was tasked with writing down 100 of
their biggest dreams.
“If you don’t write it down, you don’t achieve it,” Greg says. “That’s our
motto.”
The boys, he says, look up to Maddison for having checked off a number of
the dreams she made note of at a young age. Did Peyton’s book include a
dream of playing at the World Juniors?
“If it’s not in his book, it’s definitely written somewhere,” Greg says.
“It’s pretty hard not to have that on your list if you’re a hockey player
in Canada.”
While chasing big dreams means high-speed lives on the road, the Krebs
family remains close and connected. They log a lot of FaceTime hours,
important to Greg and Cindy so they can better understand how their kids
are feeling.
The family Snapchat group is also active, Greg says with a laugh, adding
that it’s the six Krebs plus one: Dylan Holloway, a teammate of Peyton’s
with Canada’s National Junior Team who billeted with the family during his
time with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
“We send family Snapchats to each other [and] we chirp each other all the
time,” Greg says. “Dylan got some good chirps about how messy his selection
camp hotel room was.”
When musical guests like The Arkells joined Canada’s National Junior Team
Sport Chek Selection Camp via Zoom during the 14-day quarantine, it was
Facetime that Peyton used to make sure his sister could take in the music,
too.
Including his big sister in these cool moments wasn’t out of the ordinary.
Maddison’s new single, ‘Younger Brothers’ (still unreleased but available
on YouTube) references the boys waiting for her to get home from school so
they could play. In true hockey-sister fashion, she took her turn in net.
“The boys would try to get me to come down to the basement and play
goalie,” she says. “I’m not really clueing in to what that entailed… no
equipment at all and they start slap-shotting. Well, that game went really
quick and I was crying up the stairs.”
It’s the laughter, not the tears, that’s oh-so-familiar to the Krebs
household, though.
“We’re all goofballs and it’s usually a lot of laughing at our house and
keeping it light,” Maddison says. “If you’re at our house, you’re
definitely going to see the dance floor heating up, the music is on in the
kitchen and somebody’s pulling out some moves.”
That scene might paint a contrast to the unassuming, quiet confidence
Peyton exemplifies on the ice. But Greg says Peyton, Dakota and Dru were
enrolled in hip-hop classes at one point. “If you get the music going,
Peyton is quite the dancer,” he laughs, knowing he’s said too much.
“It’s interesting because I see the boys [at the rink] and they’re very
focused, which in that space is totally appropriate,” Maddison adds, “but
once they get home, they’re very care-free and having fun with all of us.”
The Krebs family certainly lived up to its ‘Don’t be boring’ mantra in its
pre-game rally video ahead of Canada’s preliminary-round game against
Slovakia on Dec. 27.
In a house of infinite support and one-in-a-million dreams, it goes without
saying the close-knit group draws on one another. Peyton and his brothers
look up to Maddison’s drive and her work ethic, pulling from her
persistence in the tough music world.
For a proud big sister, it’s discipline she learns from her hockey-playing
brothers.
“I think that’s part of being a hockey player; you have to be disciplined,
you have to do all the behind-the-scenes things, the preparation that
people don’t see… all the hours they put into working out, waking up every
morning, eating a great meal and practicing, consistently working at their
craft.”
She admires and points to Peyton and the preparation he has put into the
World Juniors.
“They are always pushing me to carpe diem, seize the day, do all that you
can to prepare for the big moments. For Peyton, all the work that went in
will reflect and now he can just enjoy his experience. It’s really cool to
see.”
Musical talent and athletic prowess make for a well-rounded household.
While Maddison laughs at her athletic ability, Peyton is quick to insist
she’s no pushover on the ice. “She can still skate really well,” he says.
“Last Christmas she threw on the jets and was wheeling around. She’s got a
natural ability, for sure.”
Another listen to ‘Younger Brothers’ reflects the siblings’ special bond
and the moments that forged it:
Backyard ice and hockey skatesFirst snowfall and rosy cheeks
Round and round and round in figure 8s
Then the world slowed down
Nothing else matters now
Thank God for my mother
Thank God for my father
For giving this older sister
Younger brothers
While Peyton works towards a gold medal with Team Canada before lacing up
for his rookie NHL season with the Vegas Golden Knights, his sister is
working to put the finishing touches on her record for release this year.
“Being an older sister is the best,” Maddison says. “I love hanging out
with my brothers and I love cheering them on. I really hope by the spring
people can start seeing one another again and people can be in the stands
and all the things, crossing our fingers.”
CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the three Canadian Hockey League (CHL) general managers that will make up the Program of Excellence management group for the 2023-24 season.
Dave Brown (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont./Erie, OHL) and Cam Russell (Cole Harbour, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) will make their debuts as members of the POE management group, with Brown guiding the men’s under-17 program through the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and Russell leading the under-18 program through the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Peter Anholt (Naicam, Sask./Lethbridge, WHL) will return to the program to advise the under-20 program and Canada’s National Junior Team through the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Anholt will take over for James Boyd (Midland, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), whose two-year tenure with the under-20 program included back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships.
“We are excited to welcome Dave and Cam to the POE to lead our under-17 and under-18 programs, and to welcome back Peter as the under-20 lead after an outstanding job guiding our under-18 program,” said Scott Salmond(Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations. “All three individuals bring a wealth of CHL experience to our program, and we look forward to having them work alongside our athletes and staff while leading our men’s national teams next season.
“We also wish to thank James Boyd for two years of commitment and dedication to Canada’s National Junior Team. James was instrumental in helping Canada win two-straight gold medals at the World Juniors, and we are grateful for his effort and leadership over the past two years.”
Brown is in his eighth season (2015-23) as general manager of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after serving four seasons (2011-15) as director of hockey operations with the team. He helped lead Erie to an OHL championship in 2017, and contributed to a CHL record of four-consecutive 50-win seasons (2011-15). Prior to joining the Otters, Brown spent seven seasons with the Mississauga/Niagara IceDogs, serving as assistant general manager (2003-05) and general manager (2005-10).
Russell has spent 22 seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He has served as general manager for the past 15 years (2008-23), helping the Mooseheads win the Memorial Cup in 2013. Russell started his coaching career as an assistant with Halifax for three seasons (2000-03) before serving as a player development consultant for two years (2004-06). He also served as head coach for parts of five seasons (2006-11), adding the GM title to his coaching duties in 2008. As a player, he played 396 NHL games over 10 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (1989-99) and Colorado Avalanche (1998-99), and won two Presidents Cup championships with the QMJHL’s Hull Olympiques.
Anholt has led the under-18 program for the past two seasons, helping Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team win a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is currently in his eighth full season (2015-23) as general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) after being promoted from assistant general manager in 2014. Anholt also spent time as head coach of the Hurricanes for part of the 2014-15 season, and has won the WHL Executive of the Year award twice (2015-16, 2019-20). Anholt brings a wealth of WHL experience as a head coach, assistant coach and scout, including stints with the Prince Albert Raiders (1986-89, 2002-07), Seattle Thunderbirds (1989-92, 2012-14), Red Deer Rebels (1992-95, 1998-2000, 2007-08, 2011-12) and Kelowna Rockets (1996-98).
The management group will work alongside Salmond and Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, as well as the organization’s hockey operations staff. Day-to-day operations for the POE management group include assisting in coach and player selections, supporting the coaching staffs and providing input during camps and tournaments throughout the season.
The Program of Excellence will be overseen by Pat McLaughlin (Saint John, N.B.), Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer; Salmond; Millar; Dan MacKenzie (Guelph, Ont.), CHL president; David Branch (Bathurst, N.B.), OHL commissioner; Mario Cecchini (Saint-Lambert, Que.), incoming QMJHL commissioner; and Ron Robison (Indian Head, Sask.), WHL commissioner.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Canada wins gold at 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship
3-2 overtime win over Czechia gives Canada 20th World Juniors gold medal
HALIFAX, N.S – Canada's National Junior Team has repeated as champions at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time since 2009, winning gold on home ice after downing Czechia 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night.
Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, Alta./Arizona, NHL) was the overtime hero, scoring the golden goal and picking up his third point of the night off a give-and-go with Joshua Roy (Saint-Georges, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) 6:22 into the extra frame. The win gives Canada its 20th gold medal and 35th medal overall at the World Juniors.
“Tonight was amazing. It is great that we were able to win, and words cannot really describe this feeling. It means everything to win a gold medal because you never know when you are going to have another opportunity like this,” Guenther said. “To win the World Juniors with this team, and do it in front of incredible fans was a moment I will never forget.”
Guenther opened the scoring on the power play just over 12 minutes into the first period, firing a one-timer off a pass from Brandt Clarke (Nepean, Ont./Los Angeles, NHL), who also recorded an assist on the overtime winner. The goal was Guenther’s sixth power play goal of the tournament, setting a new Canadian record.
Captain Shane Wright (Burlington, Ont./Seattle, NHL) roofed a backhand to increase the Canadian lead to two just over four minutes into the second period before Jiri Kulich and Jakub Kos scored 54 seconds apart for the Czechs to even the score in the third and send the game to overtime.
“I could not be more proud of this group. I am so excited and happy for everyone on our team, but it has not really sunk in yet. To win a gold medal at the World Juniors on my birthday is an unbelievable feeling,” said Wright, who celebrated his 19th birthday Thursday. “Playing in a gold medal game is about as high-pressure as it gets, especially when it goes to overtime, but we all felt confident and we were able to come away with the win.”
Thomas Milic (Coquitlam, B.C./Seattle, WHL) turned in another strong performance in the Canadian goal, making 24 saves.
Following the gold medal game, Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C./Regina, WHL) was named Most Valuable Player and Top Forward after leading the tournament in goals (nine), assists (14) and points (23), setting four Canadian records in the process. Bedard was also named to the media all-star team
“We said from the start that we need to be resilient for 60-plus minutes. As much as we want to win games in 60 minutes, we know we were going to face a lot of good opponents in this tournament and it was no different tonight,” said head coach Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL). “I loved how our players came to the rink hungry every day and continued to stick together. I am just so proud of this team.”
Canada finished the preliminary round in second place in Group A with a 3-1 record after a loss to Czechia (5-2) and wins over Germany (11-2), Austria (11-0) and Sweden (5-1). It booked a spot in the gold medal game with a 4-3 overtime win against Slovakia in the quarterfinals and a 6-2 win over the United States in the semifinals.
Since 1977, Canada has collected 20 gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, to go along with 10 silver and five bronze.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram.
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Czechia
Thursday, January 5 | 7:30 p.m. AT | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Gold Medal Game
The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship ends the same way it began for
Canada’s National Junior Team – facing off against Czechia. This time, though, there’s a gold medal on
the line.
LAST GAME
Canada shook off a slow start in its semifinal against the United States,
scoring the game’s final six goals to earn a 6-2 win. Thomas Milic was spectacular in a 43-save effort, and Joshua Roy scored
twice and added two assists. Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist to push
his tournament total to 23 points, the third-most ever.
The Czechs won an absolute thriller to earn their place in the final,
edging Sweden 2-1 in overtime in its semifinal. David Jiricek tied the game with 38.8 seconds left and
Jiri Kulich won it in the final minute of the extra period, sending the
Czechs to play for gold for the first time since 2001.
LAST MEETING
Canada had its Boxing Day party spoiled by the Czechs,
dropping a 5-2 decision in the preliminary-round opener. Shane Wright opened the scoring and Connor Bedard made it a one-goal game
in the second period, but a pair of power-play goals by Czechia on a
five-minute advantage proved to be the difference.
WHAT TO WATCH
Bedard has had the headlines, and for good reason, but his linemates have
been terrific. Logan Stankoven is tied for second in tournament scoring
with 11 points (3-8—11) and has 22 in his World Juniors career (the
eighth-most by a Canadian ever). Roy is up to 10 points, and was the best
Canadian skater in the semifinal win. And let’s not forget about Milic. He
has gotten progressively better as the tournament has gone along, and his
43-save effort against the Americans will live in World Juniors lore.
The big names have stepped up for the Czechs on their unlikely run to the
gold medal game. Jiricek, the sixth-overall pick by Columbus in the 2022
NHL Draft, tied the game in the last minute against Sweden and Kulich, the
No. 28 pick by Buffalo, won it in overtime. And then there’s the
experience. Czechia has a whopping 16 players back from the team that
reached the bronze medal game in Edmonton last summer, including goaltender
Tomas Suchanek, who has played every second in the tournament, registering
a 1.30 goals-against average and .938 save percentage, while chipping in
offensively with a record four assists.
A LOOK BACK
Canada and Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic) have met 23 times at the
World Juniors since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. The
Canadians have dropped just two of those games, the prelim meeting and a
shootout setback in the preliminary round in 2013.
The teams are familiar foes in recent years. In addition to the opener 11
days ago, they also met in the semifinals (a 6-3 Canada win
) and the preliminary round (a 5-1 Canada win) last summer, in the prelims of the cancelled 2022 tournament (a 6-3
Canada win) and the quarterfinals of the 2021 World Juniors in the bubble
in Edmonton (a 3-0 Canada win).
HALIFAX, N.S. – Canada's National Junior Team scored six unanswered goals to punch its ticket to the gold medal game at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, defeating the United States 6-2 on Wednesday night.
Joshua Roy (St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) led the offence with two goals and two assists.
Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C./Regina, WHL), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C./Kamloops, WHL), Adam Fantilli (Nobleton, Ont./University of Michigan, Big Ten) and Brandt Clarke (Nepean, Ont./Los Angeles, NHL) chipped in with a goal and an assist each.
Ethan Del Mastro (Freelton, Ont./Mississauga, OHL), Zach Dean (Mount Pearl, N.L./Gatineau, QMJHL), Olen Zellweger (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Everett, WHL) and Owen Beck (Port Hope, Ont./Mississauga, OHL) contributed one assist apiece.
Thomas Milic (Coquitlam, B.C./Seattle, WHL) was spectacular in a 43-save performance.
The United States outshot Canada 45-37.
Following the game, Bedard, Roy and Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C./Kamloops, WHL) were named Team Canada’s best players of the tournament.
Next Game:
Canada vs. Czechia (gold medal game) – Thursday, Jan. 5 (7:30 p.m. AT/6:30 p.m. ET)
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, are providing extensive coverage of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, broadcasting all 31 tournament games. TSN Radio is also providing comprehensive tournament coverage.
Quotes:
“There was no panic on our bench. We knew it was going to be at least a 60-minute game, so we took a deep breath and started trying to execute our game plan [after falling behind 2-0]. I said to our guys that we have one more game together, and we need to stay bought into our group. We have done a great job since we came together in early December, and I am really proud of our team’s effort. [The United States] is a good team, but we stayed the course and got a lot of help from Thomas Milic, and when he plays like he has the last two games it gives us a lot of confidence.”
- Head coach Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL)on falling behind 2-0 and the effort of his team
“[Playing for gold] is what we came here to do. Last [World Juniors] in the summer was incredible and I want to relive that moment here. We did not have the start we wanted and [the United States] outplayed us at the beginning of the game. We stayed calm and got back to our game, and the Bedard goal gave us momentum.”
“I like the big moments. When you are playing in a big game against a good team, it is always nice to be able to contribute. The crowd in Halifax has been incredible, and they give us a lot of momentum in these tough games. I feel great in moments like that, and I just try to embrace them.”
- Roy on going for gold and playing in big games
“The Canada-USA rivalry is one of the best in sports, and I was very happy to be able to get my moment in that rivalry. More importantly, I am happy we were able to get the win and give ourselves an opportunity to try to win a gold medal. We were not happy about what happened earlier in the tournament [against Czechia] because that was not the way we wanted to play. If we stick to our game and continue to play the way we have been, I think we will have a good chance of winning tomorrow.”
- Fantilli on the Canada-U.S. rivalry and the rematch against Czechia
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #WorldJuniors.
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. United States
Wednesday, January 4 | 7:30 p.m. AT | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Semifinal
Coming off a sensational overtime victory against Slovakia,
Canada’s National Junior Team
looks to continue its winning ways when its faces off against the United
States on Wednesday night in semifinal action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior
Championship.
LAST GAME
Connor Bedard scored an unbelievable overtime winner to
sink Slovakia 4-3 in what can only be described as an instant classic
on Monday night in Halifax. Bedard also scored the opening goal in the
first period and added an assist, breaking four Canadian records (more on
that below). Dylan Guenther and Zack Ostapchuk also scored and Thomas Milic
was terrific in goal, making 24 saves that included snagging a Slovak
rebound attempt out of mid-air in overtime to keep Canada alive.
The United States’ last game was
an 11-1 quarterfinal victory over Germany
on Monday. Logan Cooley had a hat trick and an assist, Ryan Ufko had five
helpers, and Cutter Gauthier and Red Savage scored twice each for the
Americans, who got points from 15 different players.
LAST MEETING
The teams last met in the gold medal game of the 2021 IIHF World Junior
Championship inside the Edmonton bubble. Spencer Knight was the story,
making 34 saves for the Americans, and goals from Alex Turcotte and Trevor
Zegras
left the Canadians with silver after a 2-0 loss
.
WHAT TO WATCH
If it isn’t obvious by now, it should be. Connor Bedard. His performance
Monday helped him break four Canadian records – most career goals at the
World Juniors (16), most career points at the World Juniors (34), most
points in single World Juniors (21) and most assists in a single World
Juniors (13). He’s a major reason the Canadians are two wins away from a
20th gold medal. Canada has also benefited from the play of Milic, who has
stopped 46 of 50 shots in his last two starts and made a couple of huge
stops late in the third period and in overtime to help keep the Canadians
alive.
For the Americans, Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud come into the game with
11 and 10 points, respectively, the only players other than Bedard to hit
double-digits so far. Trey Augustine has been very good between the pipes
as a 17-year-old; his 1.36 goals-against average leads the tournament, and
his .938 save percentage is good for second.
A LOOK BACK
Historically, Canada has dominated the United States at this tournament,
winning 33 of 48 meetings, with three ties. In recent years, however,
things have been a little more even. In the last 10 meetings, going back to
2012, Canada has a record of 4-6, with its most recent win being
a 6-4 preliminary-round victory
in 2020.
The last time these two teams met in the semifinals was in 2013, a 5-1 U.S.
win. However, Canada does have 4-1 record over the Americans in semifinal
play, which includes
a 3-2 win in Halifax back in 2003
– Jeff Woywitka netted the winner with 8:20 left in that one.
All-time record: Canada leads 33-12-3 (3-3 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 194
United States goals: 134
NJT: Teammates – Seeley & Zellweger
Everett Silvertips teammates Ronan Seeley and Olen Zellweger go head to head.
World Juniors Recap – Canada 4, Slovakia 3 (OT)
Connor Bedard’s record-breaking night helped Canada down Slovakia in overtime to advance to the semifinals
HALIFAX, N.S. – Canada's National Junior Team advanced to the semifinals at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in dramatic fashion, beating Slovakia 4-3 in overtime on Monday night.
Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C./Regina, WHL) scored the game-winner on a solo effort 5:17 into overtime.
Bedard also scored the opening goal in the first period and added an assist, breaking four Canadian records – most career goals at the World Juniors (16), most career points at the World Juniors (34), most points in single World Juniors (21) and most assists in a single World Juniors (13).
Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, Alta./Arizona, NHL) and Zack Ostapchuk (St. Albert, Alta./Vancouver, WHL) rounded out the scoring.
Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C./Kamloops, WHL), Brennan Othmann (Pickering, Ont./Peterborough, OHL), Zach Dean (Mount Pearl, N.L./Gatineau, QMJHL) and Nathan Gaucher (Richelieu, Que./Québec, QMJHL) chipped in with one assist apiece.
Thomas Milic (Coquitlam, B.C./Seattle, WHL) made 24 saves.
Canada outshot Slovakia 57-27.
Next Game:
Canada vs. United States (semifinal) – Wednesday, Jan. 4 (7:30 p.m. AT/6:30 p.m. ET)
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, are providing extensive coverage of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, broadcasting all 31 tournament games. TSN Radio is also providing comprehensive tournament coverage.
Quotes:
“Obviously the [Bedard] goal was memorable, but Thomas Milic made some big saves for us. The way Connor scored and how he played tonight was huge, but we do not get to that moment without Thomas’ performance. He was lights out and made some key saves in overtime and in the third period. We outshot [Slovakia], but they had a lot of high-quality chances that we needed [Milic] to step up for, and he was dynamite for us tonight.”
- Head coach Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL)on the play of Milic
“I saw [the Slovak defender] make a move and there was a lane to the net, so I tried to make my move using my instinct and luckily it went in. That moment [in overtime] was special for all of us. It was pretty cool to score that goal, but it was the quarterfinals and we still have a lot of hockey left. I am happy about the win, and like I said in intermission I was not really thinking about [the records]. Obviously it matters, but for me it is about winning, and that is what we are here to do.”
- Bedard on his overtime winner and breaking Canadian records
“[Three-on-three overtime] is exciting and not something I shy away from. It is an opportunity to give your team a win, and if I am called upon to go out there and do a job then I am excited for it. I try to play opportunistic and try to help finish the game off. The game was closer than we would have liked, but [Slovakia] is a good team and they were better than the Slovak team we saw in pre-competition. We have to give them credit because they battled hard, but we stuck with it and found a way to pull off the win.”
- Stankoven on three-on-three overtime and the challenges of playing Slovakia
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #WorldJuniors.
World Juniors 50/50 draws pass $1 million in sales
Proceeds support community programs on and off the ice
CALGARY, Alta. – The medal round at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship begins today in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B., but the tournament’s legacy is already positioned to support programs in communities throughout Canada for years to come through the proceeds of World Juniors 50/50 draws.
More than $1 million in World Juniors 50/50 tickets have been sold to hockey fans in six participating provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan), with net proceeds going to support organizations that work towards greater safety and inclusiveness in and around hockey.
With each World Juniors 50/50 ticket purchase, fans are contributing to meaningful programs in their communities, as the net proceeds go to initiatives in that province, while the remaining half of the jackpots go to winning fans in the six provinces.
Proceeds from World Juniors 50/50 draws go towards the following initiatives in each participating province:
Alberta – Proceeds will be invested directly into grassroots initiatives in the province and increase the capacity of Hockey Alberta members to deliver a positive experience for all participants at the local level.
British Columbia – Proceeds will be invested directly into female hockey initiatives, including initiation programs.
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – Proceeds from World Juniors 50/50 draws will benefit three areas: sexual violence education, female hockey associations, and additional diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives determined by Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey Nova Scotia.
Ontario – Proceeds will benefit a number of key initiatives, including support to families demonstrating financial need for hockey registration, funding for equipment for players and families, and education programs on gender identity and expression.
Saskatchewan – Proceeds will support programs with minor hockey associations in the province.
Don’t miss your chance to win more and give more with this year’s World Juniors 50/50 draws! For a complete draw schedule, please check your province’s 50/50 page.
NJT: Leaders among leaders
Hear from Canada’s captains on what it means to wear a letter.
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Slovakia
Monday, January 2 | 7:30 p.m. AT | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Quarterfinal
Happy New Year! After defeating Sweden in the final preliminary game to
solidify its hold on second place in Group A,
Canada’s National Junior Team will face Slovakia in the quarterfinals to begin win-or-go-home hockey.
LAST GAME
In a New Year’s Eve showdown Canada closed the prelims with a
5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday. Joshua Roy scored only 57 seconds into the game, with Brennan Othmann and
Tyson Hinds scoring goals of their own to give Canada a 3-1 lead after 20
minutes. Othmann added a second goal in the third period and Kevin
Korchinski rounded out the scoring in Canada’s third win in a row. Thomas
Milic made 22 saves, while Canada battered Carl Lindbom with 44 shots at
the other end.
In its final preliminary-round game,
Slovakia dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to Switzerland. Adam Sykora opened scoring in the first period and Servac Petrovsky
scored twice in the second to give Slovakia a 3-1 lead heading into the
final frame. But Switzerland tied it up in the last 20 minutes to send the
game to extra time. It was a battle of the goaltenders with Kevin Pasche
and Adam Gajan pushing the shootout to a 20th skater before Rodwin Dionicio
scored to drop the Slovaks to third in Group B.
LAST MEETING
Canada and Slovakia last met in Moncton two weeks ago in pre-tournament
action, with the
Canadians earning a 6-1 win. Colton Dach opened the scoring in the first period. Brandt Clarke and
Zach Dean scored 21 seconds apart in the middle frame to increase the lead.
Less than a minute into the third, Brennan Othmann and Joshua Roy scored
six seconds apart, with Dylan Guenther scoring later in the period to round
out the scoring. Benjamin Gaudreau made 16 saves, with Canada firing 48
shots on Patrik Andrisik.
WHAT TO WATCH
Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but … Connor Bedard. After Saturday’s
four-point performance against Sweden, the 17-year-old is on the brink of
passing Eric Lindros’ all-time Canadian scoring record (he’s tied at 31
points) and the single-tournament mark (he’s even with Dale McCourt and
Brayden Schenn at 18). The next goal Bedard scores will also surpass Jordan
Eberle’s all-time Canadian record for goals at the World Juniors. With
Colton Dach’s tournament-ending injury, Owen Beck will make his Team Canada
debut against Slovakia. The Mississauga Steelheads captain has 17 goals and
40 points in 30 games this season.
Gajan has been very good in the Slovak net; his 1.95 goals-against average
and .939 save percentage ranked among the tournament leaders in the
prelims, and he allowed just three goals at five-on-five in his three
appearances. He was terrific against the Swiss, making 32 saves through
overtime and turning aside seven of 10 in the shootout, and he’ll need to
be good again if the Europeans hope to spring the upset.
A LOOK BACK
Canada has dominated the head-to-head history, winning 15 of 16 meetings
(with the other ending in a tie in 1999 – the only 0-0 draw in Canadian
World Juniors history).
HALIFAX, N.S. – Canada's National Junior Team wrapped up preliminary-round action with its third-consecutive win at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, finishing in second place in Group A after downing Sweden 5-1 on Saturday night.
Brennan Othmann (Pickering, Ont./Peterborough, OHL) led the offence with a pair of goals.
Joshua Roy (St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Tyson Hinds (Gatineau, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) and Kevin Korchinski (Saskatoon, Sask./Seattle, WHL) rounded out the scoring.
Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C./Regina, WHL) chipped in with four assists, tying a trio of Canadian records – most career points at the World Juniors (31), most points in single World Juniors (18) and most assists in a single World Juniors (12).
Brandt Clarke (Nepean, Ont./Los Angeles, NHL), Shane Wright (Burlington, Ont./Seattle, NHL), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C./Kamloops, WHL), Dylan Guenther (Edmonton, Alta./Arizona, NHL), Ethan Del Mastro (Freelton, Ont./Mississauga, OHL) and Nolan Allan (Davidson, Sask./Seattle, WHL) contributed one assist apiece.
Thomas Milic (Coquitlam, B.C./Seattle, WHL) made 22 saves.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, are providing extensive coverage of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, broadcasting all 31 tournament games. TSN Radio is also providing comprehensive tournament coverage.
Quotes:
“I thought we had a good game tonight, and we had a great start against a team that has not given up a lot of goals. We got on [Sweden] early and played fast, and we were able to keep the crowd into the game. The five-minute major set us back a bit similar to the Czechia game, but we had a good penalty kill and Milic did a great job helping us through it. We need to be a little more disciplined. We took a few penalties 200 feet from our net, and when we get down to a must-win game we need to do a better job of staying out of the box.”
- Head coach Dennis Williams (Stratford, Ont./Everett, WHL)on tonight’s win
“It was special [to play on home ice on New Year’s Eve]. It is something you grow up watching World Juniors as a kid, and to be in an important game against a tough opponent like Sweden was special. I feel like we are playing way better than at the start of the tournament. We are playing a more complete game and we are back to the hard-nosed style we want to play. We are starting to play well, and we have all four lines contributing, our defence are contributing and our goalies are playing great, and overall we played a strong game tonight.”
- Othmann on playing on New Year’s Eve and the team’s improvement
“I felt really good today. The more games we play in this tournament, for myself and for the team as a whole, we are settling in and gaining more confidence. As a team and personally, our confidence is going to continue to go up as we move into elimination games.”
“The crowd was amazing right from the start of warmups. It was such a great atmosphere to play in and the fans really helped us out tonight. Right from the start of puck drop, the energy was great and they helped us make an impact on the game right away.”
- Milic on the confidence of the team and the fans in Halifax
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #WorldJuniors.
WJC: Post-Game Report – CAN 6, CZE 3
Owen Power scored a hat trick as Canada beat Czechia in Edmonton.
Reuniting the Don Mills Flyers
They were members of the talented Don Mills Flyers team, and now minor hockey teammates Brandt Clarke, Brennan Othmann and Shane Wright are together again at the World Juniors
Three players, one minor hockey team and a legacy that continues to be
built. After first joining forces in minor hockey, Brandt Clarke, Brennan
Othmann and Shane Wright have taken the hockey world by storm and are
reunited again to compete for gold at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
In 2016, Clarke had just moved from Ottawa to Toronto ahead of his U14 AAA
season. He joined the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s (GTHL) Don Mills
Flyers, where he was introduced to two other players that were new to the
team: Othmann and Wright.
“I actually didn’t know who either of them [was], I just knew some of the
other guys on Don Mills,” Clarke explains. “But we clicked right away, we
were the new guys. We talked, we gelled early and there’s just a connection
there. They’re two special players.”
Othmann and Wright had previously played against each other, but never on
the same team. During a spring tournament, Flyers head coach Marc Slawson
pointed out Wright to Othmann, saying he would likely play with him.
“I looked at Shane on the ice and you automatically saw that he stood out,
and I was excited watching him play,” Othmann says. “He’s a really good
player.”
On the ice, the three Don Mills Flyers quickly gained chemistry with each
other.
“I think we fed off each other really well,” Wright says. “We understood
where each other were on the ice, we’re reacting and reading off each other
on the ice. We just always had that chemistry.”
The team was a force to be reckoned with. During the three years Clarke,
Othmann and Wright wore the Flyers logo, they won three consecutive GTHL
championships, the 2018 All-Ontario U15 AAA Championship and the 2019 OHL
Cup after going 30-0-3 in the GTHL during the 2018-19 regular season.
But the team also faced adversity. In the middle of its U15 championship
campaign, Flyers goaltender Roy Pejcinovski was killed in a triple homicide
along with his mother and 13-year-old sister, Vana, in Ajax, Ont.
“In that situation, you either come together or you spread apart, and our
team obviously came together,” Othmann says.
“It was definitely something that still sticks with us every day,” Clarke
adds. “I still think of Roy every single day.”
With Pejcinovski in their hearts, Don Mills continued to play for its
netminder throughout the remainder of its time together, culminating in the
2019 OHL Cup. Although the Flyers trailed the Toronto Red Wings (who
included World Juniors teammate Adam Fantilli) 4-1 after the first period,
they battled back to push the game to overtime.
“Clarke stole the puck from the other team and gave me a little high-flip
pass,” Wright explains. “I skate onto it, and we had a 2-on-1 with me and
[Othmann]. I passed it and he did the rest.”
“That game was so special. We came in with a lot of adversity and we wanted
to win that for our goalie Roy and his family,” Othmann says. “It’s kind of
funny thinking about it: Clarkey to Shane, Shane to me. In that way, it
looks cool on the box score. That’s my favourite memory of the Flyers and
it’s my favourite memory with those two.”
After the OHL Cup, the trio went off on their own hockey journeys. All
three players were selected in the top four picks of the 2019 OHL Priority
Selection. Wright became the fifth player granted exceptional-player status
and was selected first by the Kingston Frontenacs. Othmann was taken second
by the Flint Firebirds and Clarke was grabbed fourth overall by the Barrie
Colts.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Clarke says. “We’re all first-round picks. We’re all
going to other places around the continent, but when we got the word that
all three us of were going to be back together and play on the global stage
like this, it was really cool. We’re all texting each other right away…
when I saw them in the airport, I went up and gave them a hug.”
The 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship marks the second time the Don Mills
trio has reunited on the international stage. In 2021, they won gold at the
IIHF U18 World Championship. Wright co-led the Canadians in scoring with 14
points and a Canadian record nine goals, Othmann had three goals and three
assists and Clarke chipped in with two goals and five helpers.
Although their teams are spread out across North America (all three were
first-round NHL picks as well), the three Flyers remain in touch. They have
an active group chat, they’ll make time to go golfing or skate together, or
play the NHL series video games to stay connected. But despite the
distance, the connection remains just as strong as it was at Don Mills.
“That chemistry has stayed the same, just like how we were in minor,”
Wright says. “It’s always going to be there, that bond and that trust [we
have].”
To be able to play in multiple world championships together with two of
your buddies from your minor hockey team is an unlikely feat. But Clarke,
Othmann and Wright each push each other to be the best they can be—and that
payoff is evident on the ice.
“To do this with Shane and Brennan, the two guys I consider like brothers
to me, it’s really special,” Clarke adds.
“Those two have been great the whole way since I’ve been 14,” Othmann says.
“It’s been a crazy few years. It’s been ups and downs for all of us but at
the same time, it’s been an unbelievable journey and it’s been an
unbelievable time with them. To cap it off at the World Juniors, it’s going
to be something special.”
For more information:
Esther Madziya Manager, Communications Hockey Canada
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